Automatic paper-cup-forming machine



W. W. BEVAN AND C. E. CLARKE.

AUTOMATIC PA-PER CUP FORlv'IING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I4, I9I8.

Patented May 4, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

me'a w waadm W II W. W. BEVA-N AND C. E. CLARKE.

AUTOMATIC PAPER CUP FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 14,1918.

1,339,23 15. Patented May 4, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W 0 a h nven%m M a. 7 #027229 W. W. BEVAN AND C. E. CLARKE.

AUTOMATIC PAPER CUP FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1350.14, 1918.

1 ,33 9,3 1 5. Patented May 4, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

30 3.9 s N W W f 713672'20715' aw & M 275W 4M (Ciivrngy the accompanying UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM. w. BEVAN, or mnmosn, Am) oHAnLEs a cLAnKEf or, wrNTHnoP, 1

. MASSACHUSETTS. 1

AUTOMATIC PAPER-CUP-FORMINCP MACHINE.

1,339,315. Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented May 'Application illedPecember 14, 1918. Serial 236,678.

Be it knownthat wc, WILLIAM W. BEvAN, of Melrose, Massachusetts, and CHARLES E.

CLARKE, of Winthrop, Massachusetts, have.

invented an Improvement in Automatic Paper-Cup-Forming Machines, of which the following description, in connection with drawings, is a specification, like lettersv on the drawings representing like parts.

Our present invention is an improved machine to form paper cups by a novel process, and the object of the invention is to improve and perfect an automatic cup forming machine and to simplify the process of manufacturing said cups as wel as toproduce a more satisfactory article.

The invention is particularly applicable to the forming of paper cups of very thin stock,fluting or corrugating the same around the sides so that the cups will preserve their cup-like conformation for subsequent use in receiving and holding confectionery, such as bonbons, ch ocolates, etc. It will be appreciated that the paper cups for this purpose must be formed from very light, economical and inexpensive, as well as thin stock, and the problems involved are'very much more difiicult from, and different than, forming cups from vpaper stock of heavy material, such as is employed in making paper'drinking cups or the like. In the handling of such paper stock, also, great care must be taken not to break the stock or the completed cup after-it is formed.

-With the above and other obi'ects in View, our present invention contemp ates the for- .mation of corrugated paper cups for confectionery orthe like by a novel process, adapted to form such cups from a continuous strip of stockand preferably from a plurality of such strips of, stock which are fed continuously to the machine, although intermittently stopped and held, while a preliminary die conforming operation is performed upon the strip or strips, drawing'the needed amount .of stock into the dies before the blanks are actually-cut from the strip,

then a further conforming operation is 'pe'rformed thus striking up'the cups by a progressive plurality of steps. This novel process is further important in enabling each cup thus formed to be of uniform dimensions a ter it is completed, whereas formerly the stitute important features.

, process of manufacture;

We also provide means for adjustment of the machine to operate upon any desired plurality of thicknesses, with equal efficiency, fifteen to thirty thicknesses of paper stock for forming such confectionery cups being actuated simultaneously so that the capacity of the machine is vastly greater than machines heretofore made forthis purpose, so far as we are aware. The speed and accuracy of operation of our machine con- A still further important advantage con- 'sists in the arrangement whereby the paper cups are held in their final and desired conformation for a considerable eriod and preferably-under the influence 0 heat, both heat and pressure setting the paper ,cups

and the corrugations in-a more permanent form'than has heretofore been possible in dealing with such thin and cheap stock in making cups of this kind.

Further'features of the invention, novel combinations of parts and important advantages will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

' Referring to the drawings illustrating a I preferred embodiment of our inventionshowing a machine carrying out ourjnovel Figure 1 is a front view of our machine; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on'f the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 1s an enlarged detail partly in cross section of the cup forming dies; and Fig. 5 illustrates a completed cup.

As shown inthe drawings, we provide a compact machine comprising a suitable base 1 which may besupported upon a bench or separate standards,- said base carryin a vertical flange 2 and side wings 3 an 4,

at their uppermost portions bearcarrying ings 6 and 7 for the cam shaft 8. A gear wheel 10 and at the front of the machine the cam shaft- 8 carries eccentrics 1.1 and 12 to operate the die forming devices and cutter, as

9 is secured to said shaft by a key power.

shaft is a small pulley 23 to supply" power to rotate the feeding brushes leading will be explained. At the opposite'end of power shaft 15 mounted in suitable bearings 16 and 17 formed as hubs in the flange 2 with a bracing lug 18 at eachside of the main bearing 16. A bushing 19 is provided for the main bearing and fast and loose pulleys 20 and 21 respectively are fitted, (see Fig. 2) to the power shaft 15 to which a belt 22 is led from any suitable'source of On the outer end of the power the stock from the machine. v

The stock feeding means comprise a pair of .rolls 25 and 26, each feed wheel is mounted on a shaft, the "shaft 27 for the upper feed wheel 25 being shown in Fig. 3 and both shafts are mounted in suitable bearings 29 and 30 carriedon a bracket 31 secured to the base 1. The wheels 25 and 26 are turned in unison by a set of gear wheels 32, to feed stock between them, and power is received from a belt 33 leading from the pulley 13 on the cam shaft 8 to and around the pulley 34 on the upper shaft 27. w

The rolls to lead the stock from the machine after the cup forming blanks have been cut therefrom comprise a pair of rolls 36- and 37 preferably of yielding material such as brushes. These rolls are mounted on the shafts 38 and 39 respectively, each supported in bearings 40 and 41 on the base 1. Gear wheels42 and 43 keyed to the outer end of the shaft 38 and to the shaft 39, as

shown in Fig. 2, act to turn the brushes 36 and 37 together, the shaft 39 extending be-'- yond the gears and carrying the pulley 44 which receives a belt 45 uniting this vpulley to the pulley 23 on the power shaft 15 glv- "ing a high speed of rotation to the brushes In our present machinewe arrange a plurality of strips of paper stock designated generally at .50 and Comprising as .manythicknesses as desired, being. led from separate rolls. outside the machine to-and between the pairs of feeding in rolls 25 and 26, the numerals 46, 47, 48, and 49 indicating a plurality of such strips of paper. It will be understood, however, that a very considerable number of strips of paper may.

thus be united, as many as 30 being capable of being consolidated into the strip 50 andv efficiently acted upon by our machine. The feeding in rolls 25 and 26 rotate continu ously and thereby draw a plurality of strips of paper, 46, 47, 48, and 49, steadily and evenly from their respective rolls. A suitable space is also provided between the feeding in rolls 25 and 26 and' the dies and cutter mechanism to allow for the continuous feeding in of the paper strips during the intermediate stopping of the strips 50 durin the die forming and cutting operations. eanwhile-the yielding rolls 36 and 37 rotating at high speed serve to draw the strips 50 tightly and enable the strip to be momentarily stopped without injury thereto because of the flexibility of the feeding out rolls 36 and 37, while their speed will serve to instantly feed outwardly the strips 50 when released from the cutter and dies so as to straighten out the strips 50 and'permit a new portion to be drawn tightly under the dies for the succeeding operation of the i machine. 5

The strips 50 are drawn across the work table 55, which is raised under the movable dies to receive the fixed die 56, said die being preferably formed with an annular' shoulder, as shown at 57 to rest upon a corresponding shoulder 58, on the work table 55, but spaced from the inner diameter of the recess in-thework table in order to permit the ring '59 to be fitted therebetween.

Preferably this ring 59Yis of steel, wood,

fiber, rubber or other suitable material to coiiperate with the cutting die 'and under both the edges thereof while the work table 55 and die 56- are of metal.

In accordance with our invention and our novel operation, we arrange the strips of material to be fed through the machine and to have the first forming die, stamp out a blank directly from said strip or strips of material 50, thusenab'ling the forming dies to gather within their respective periphery the stock that isneeded therefor, thus actually stamping said stock into the dies and giving it the first forming action in the plurality of successive conforming movements of the. dies. This action momentarily stops 'the'feeding of the paper through the, rolls 36/and 37 which however being flexible permit the same without injury. Thereupon the cutter is actuated to out clearly around the forming dies, releasing the blank or stock held between the first dies, whereupon" the second die action forces said stock into the completed cup forming contour. The

dies then release the stock and the rapid rotation of the flexible rolls 36 and 37 instantly straightens out the stoTzk 50 to permit the succeeding operation;

The movable dies andcutting mechanism. therefor will now be described. Secured to the forward flanges 3 and 4 are guide plates 61 and 62 respectively, forming with a recess or shoulders 63 and64 in the flanges 3 and 4, a suitable slideway or bearing for the several die carriers, as will be clearly seen on reference to Fig. 3.' Thecutter die carrier 70 is formed with ribs 71, at either side, ending in a lowermost head 72, having an inner threaded recess 73 to which a shank 74 of the cutter die -75\is correspondingly threaded, the cutter die 75 pr jecting suit-.

l ably therefrom. At the upper end of the carrier 70 is a bolt 76 extending through an eccentric bushing 77 in a corresponding re cess in the carrier 70 and uniting said car-.

rier to a connecting rod 78, saidiro'd having a strap 79, extending around the eccentric 11 on the cam shaft 8. Rotation of the cam shaft 8 thus imparts vertical reciprocation to the carrier 70 and cutter 7 5.- The forming die 80 is fitted to a carrier 81, this carrier 81 has a pair of ribs '82, 82, (see Fig. 3) saidribs being united at the top in'a yoke 84:.

Through the yoke 84: is a bolt 85 connecting this carrier with a connecting rod 86,-preferably an eccentric bushing 89- is also provided. The eccentric bushings 77 and 89 aia 'ford adjustable means for correcting the dies and for varying thickness of stock Said rod 86 has its upper end in the form of a strap87 to encircle the eccentric 12. Preferably a suitable space 88or lost motion is provided between the strap 87 and the cam 12 to allow, automatically for a dwell, permitting the die 80 to rest on the stock while the plunger 90 draws the stock downwardly.

and the shoulders 62 and 64 of the frame."

The upper end of the ribs 93 and 9 1 are united 1n a yoke 95, through'which abolt' 96 secures the lower end of a connecting rodsaid rod having its upper end 98 pivoted to a stud 100 formed on the faceof .the eccentric 12. Securing thisrod'to the respec tive pivots are headed bblts 101 and washer suitable source.

102 at the stud 100 and corresponding bolt 103 and washerl0 l at the lower end s'ecuring same to thebolt.96.'

Rotation of the cam shaft 8 imparts'to the several die carriers. verticalreciprocation in timed relation to each other.

In order to supply heat to the stock to still further enable the same, to be p'erm anently set in its desired conformation, wev apply-a steam or gas heater 105 around the lower part totl1e fixed die 56 leading steam' or gas thereto by a supply pipe 106 from any In order to still further have the dies and completely formed cups thus heated, we'have the lower die 56'ex tending downwardly from the work table 55 andreceiving a threaded nut 107, holding said (he firmly in position and interiorly threaded, a pipe 110 through which the formed cups are succe's'ively forced by shecessivc die forming operations, passing highly heated. portion.

. wardly, as indicated die 56, forming through the heated die and pipe until.

they are completely forced outof the mach1ne.. 1

The operation of our improved automatic machine will be readily understood: Any desired number of paper rolls bein fitted in proximity tothe machine and 1e through the feeding in rolls 25 and 26 across the work table 55and over the feeding out rolls 36 and 37, the machine is then ready for operation- Power being applied, the rota-L. tion of the cam shaft and sets of feeding rolls, first stretches the stock 50-tightly under the dies, then the first conforming die.

is moved downwardly into contact with the stock 50, momentarily stopping the stock. and giving the preliminary shaping contour to the stock. Immediatelythereafter and while the forming die 80 and fixed die 56 are thus in contact, holding the stock between them,the cutter 75 is actuated-to sever the material thus. drawn within the dies,

freeing same from the strip 50, leaving blanks as indicated at 112, Fig. 1. There-T after while the forming die 80 isresting on the stock, because of the dwell 88 the central die moves downwardly drawing the now severed and partly formed blank or blanks 115 out from the tension of the die 80 and i I into the second progressive 'stateof the operation, further completing the same by forcing the stock into the lower and more The cutters being raised during its cycle of movement, the die 80 is now raisedtoether with the plunger 90, permitting the feeding out rolls 36 and 37 to instantly draw in under the diesa new strip of stock which has been curled up-:

in Fig. 1, inside the feeding rolls 25 and 26. The blankforming operation is repeated on a successive-strip and'the successive blanks are forced down on top of the' preceding blanks which are compelled to travel the entire length of the die 56 and'pipe 110, thus giving them a relatively long time in which to be maintained .in their proper cup shape and corrugated cup conformation. that the corresponding surfaces .of the fixed die 80 and central die 90 are coiiperativel corrugated to simultaneously conform an corrugate the edges of the cups. In addition tothe weight of the die 80 and its carrier, rod, etc.', we may also supplyvarying degrees of pressure on said stock by It will be understood bolt 119 will give the desired degree of ten- 7 sion and a lock nut 121 will hold. the same in adjustedposition. With this construc tion, pressure in addition to the mere weight uniform than those heretofore made, Where blanks were first stamped out and then put through a die, insures the cups retaining their cuplike form irrespective of the eX- tremely thin and inexpensive stock from which such cups must be made for commercial use.

Our present invention is further describedand defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. In a machine of the class described, means to feed a plurality of strips of stock through the machine, said feeding means comprising continuously actuated feeding-in rolls and continuously actuated flexible feedout rolls, in combination with a plurality of successively operated dies, and means to actuate said dies to momentarily stop the feeding of stock through the machine While stamping out cups therefrom."

2. In a machine of the class described, means to feed a plurality of paper strips through the, machine in alinement for die forming and cutting operations, said feeding means comprising continuously acting feeding-in rolls and flexibly formed feeding-out rolls rotating at higher speed than the feeding-in rolls, whereby the stock can be momentarily stopped during die forming and thereafter will be fed out at greater speed than the feeding in, to hold said stock rality of movable dies, means for moving in position for the succeeding cup forming action of the dies.

3; In a machine of the class described, the combination of a stationary die, a plusaid plurality of movable dies relatively to the stationary die, stock feeding-in rolls 10- cated at one side of saiddies, means for rotating said rolls to continuously feed stock to the dies, stock feeding-out rolls located at the other side of said glies, and means for rotating said stock feeding-out rolls, said stock feeding-out rolls cooperating with the dies to intermittently feed stock therefrom.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a stationary die, a plurality of movable dies, concentrically mounted With respect to each other, means for moving said plurality of movable dies relatively to the stationary die, continuously rotating rolls for continuously feeding stock to the dies, continuously rotating wbrush rolls cooperating With the dies for intermittently feeding stock therefrom, and means for rotating said rolls. I c

5. In a machine of the-class described, the combination of a stationary die, a plurality of movable dies cooperating therewith and successively'operated, meansfor feeding a plurality of superposed strips of paper to the machine to be simultaneously operated upon by the dies,'means for operating one of said movable dies in advance of the others, to momentarily stop the strips of paperin position over the stationary die, and means for feeding the paper strips'from the machine more rapidly than the same are fed to the machine.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our WILLIAM W. BEVAN.

CHARLES E. CLARKE.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES R. HonDER, RACHAEL G. LESLIE. 

